Moonscars is a sidescroller soulslike that takes the term ‘punishingly difficult’ and surpasses it. As an enjoyer of soulslike games, I thought my schooled patience and determination would make this enjoyable and a fun experience. I was wrong. Moonscars takes pleasure in throwing you not into the deep-end, but the damn ocean at every step you take. Being a 2D platformer, the devs have really made sure to fill every crevice of this game with pain and frustration. This is for those who have laughed in the face of the Dark Souls franchise.
‘Get good’ won’t cut it anymore
It’s difficult to begin talking about this game when there is so much going for it. When playing other soulslike titles, it is easy to tell other people early on their to ‘get good’ after your hours of intensive grinding and practice, which has granted you powerful weapons, armours and consumables. In Moonscars, however, there is scarcely the luxury of armour and weapon drops.
This is truly a skills game, and you will have to use everything available to you in almost every encounter. Moonscars ditches the typical conventions of getting new armour and weapons and finding consumables in favour of a much more difficult system that largely involves many temporary stat increases, some that can cost you a lot.
Not being able to rely on any assistance for long (unless you are particularly skilled and can avoid death – which is the usual cut-off for most buffs and bonuses), you are forced to master the art of a small moveset and make the most of magical abilities – Witcheries – which only two can be available at any time.
There is no ‘levelling up’ and hardly any ‘getting stronger’. You must choose carefully when to activate certain bonuses as one miss-step could void it, and you’ll be back to square one.
Additionally, being a platformer means that there isn’t really the possibility of winding exploration like in other 3D titles, so the devs thought to cram as much action and combat into the game as possible. You literally cannot go five steps without being in the middle of an attack. Sure, you can past most of the enemies, but you may miss out of secret areas. And besides, where’s the fun in that?
Such a gut-wrenchingly hard game means that if you don’t have a history with soulslike games, you may want to give this one a miss. Only truly masochistic people would volunteer to buy and play this game.
Infuriating enemies
Not only are the systems and lay-out of the game designed against you, but the enemies are what make this game so difficult.
Sure, they all have only one attack sequence and most aren’t that bad in all fairness, but it is how the devs have used the enemies that will get you every time. How they create groups and tailor the environment against you.
There will be potentiality to use the environment against the enemies, which is always hilarious, but for the most part it will be you that will suffering from tight platforms, enclosed spaces, spikes, temporary floors and your own stupidity.
Related: Moonscars combat tips and tricks – every way to crush your enemies
Excitingly, throughout the game are many unique enemies that aren’t exactly mini-bosses, but are much tougher than other opponents and all have their own fighting style. These enemies will not respawn upon you killing them, and they will give you a bad time in trying to do so.
This adds flavour to what would otherwise be a somewhat repetitive game, and the fact that they are all skippable means you can go hunting at your risk.
The desolate environments of Moonscars
Something has to be said about the environments of Moonscars. Soulslike games aren’t exactly renown for their beauty, sure, but Moonscars does leave a lot to be desired. The use of colour is minimal and the art for the environment all follow the same sorts of shades and abyssal design.
This isn’t exactly a bad thing. It is a very atmospheric game because of it and it complements the design of the enemies, which are unique, fun, and detailed. However, the complete aversion to colour (aside from the striking red) does mean that you will not be pulled in from the art style alone. You are going to really have to enjoy playing harsh games to stick around with Moonscars.
It is telling that such a hardcore audience was their target, but I can’t help but think the environments are a little too ‘on-the-nose’ depressing and desolate, despite their gorgeous designs and architecture. I mean, most other soulslike titles have some gorgeous environments and use of colour, from Dark Souls’ Irithyll to Blasphemous’ diverse use of colours.
Unbearably difficult, or a fun challenge?
Moonscars manages to be both. Never before has my patience been so ice-thin, so close to the pushing point.
The fragile nature of your character in a merciless land is honestly a genius concept, and the temporary buffing systems yet near-infinite healing (granted you have enough Ichor that is replenished by, ironically, fighting enemies) mean that you have just enough to get through anything the game throws at you. But that is only if you are quick enough, determined enough, and don’t get finger-ties with the controls.
If you are after a real challenge, then by all means take up Moonscars. The story, challenges, and unique spin on a classic genre is enough to make this game stand out and provide a completely new experience.
Keep an eye on Gamer Journalist for more gaming and Moonscars content, such as what to do at Dark Mirrors.
